3 Differences Between Men’s & Women’s Drug Detox

Going through rehabilitation from an addiction can be quite difficult equally for men or women. But are the details of the process the same? Our socio-economic roles, though more gender-equal than ever, still play an important part in how exactly we react towards every situation. While there’s a higher number of men that are prompt to fall into an abusive behavior or an addiction, we shouldn’t forget that as a disease it can affect us all.

What are the differences between men and women when it comes to detox?

Likelihood

It might come across as a stereotype, but when it comes to prevalence, women have the upper hand. According to the NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), men are three times more likely to become addicts either to an illegal substance or alcohol.

Some believe this could be due to the still higher standard sexism that lies within the core of our society, where it is still widely believed, or at least assumed that men have to suffer in silence and keep all of their feelings bottled up to never show any signs of weaknesses. Dealing with depression, loss of a loved one or problems at work can become major triggers in what pushes a man to take the drink or abuse drugs.

Triggers

Both men and women experience specific relapse triggers that make them more likely to take on the habit. Usually, in men’s case, the need to amplify positive feelings or deal with an emotional crisis is what could open the door that leads to an addiction. Getting over these situations with professional help, might do the job and help the patients to overcome their triggers without the need to fall back on using.

For women, there’s a tendency to self-medication, also to deal with psychological issues that could date back to their very own childhood. Such as abuse, depression, anxiety or other mental disorders that play a major role in the recovering process.

Consequences

Unlike with men, the women’s drug detox process can unravel a much more delicate process that could leave bigger wounds emotionally. Women are much more likely to make the transition from abusing to dependent faster than men. This also leads to bigger and more serious consequences that are harder to overcome during the process.

Though both men and women suffer equally hard and tough situations once they’ve dived into the world of addiction, there are certain differences that might make some treatments better suited for specific patients. In regards to their response to the treatment, once either gender has found their way and the reasons to stick with the treatment, they are both just as likely to follow through with it. Which means, that despite the different factors that could initially lead to an addiction, in the end, all roads lead to Rome.

If you’d like to ask a question or suggest any other differences between men and women when it comes to rehabilitation, feel free to leave a comment below.